Preparation of isopropyl alcohol



Patented Aug. 18, 1936 Walter Philip Joshua,

2,051,144. 7 PREPARATION OF isorao'rrn ALCOHOL PATENT Cheam, Herbert Muggleton Stanley, Tadworth, and John Blair Dymock, Sutton, England No Drawing. Application October 4, 1933, Serial No. 692,221. In 1932 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to the production of isopropyl alcohol by propylene with water vapor.

the direct combination of According to this invention propylene and water vapor are caused 5 to combine at high temperatures at atmospheric or increased pressures in catalyst compounded from one or more of the metals iron, cobalt or 10 compounds thereof, the amount the presence of a solid phosphoric acid with manganese, copper, the oxides or other of phosphoric uranium or acid present in the catalyst being in excess of that required to form the orthophosphate of the metal or metals selected.

In addition to one or more of the metals it is advantageous to incorporate boron, the amount of phosphoric acid used in that event being in excess of that required to form the orthophosphate of boron as well as the orthophosphate of the metal or metals.

The catalyst used in the solid state flakes and so forth or may be granules,

may be supported on inert carriers such as electrode carbon and the like, or

these materials may be impregnated with the catalyst in liquid form,

and subsequently dried. The reaction may be carried out at temperatures of 100-300 C. At-

mospheric pressure may be employed or increased pressures up to 100 atmospheres.

The following examples illustrate the manner in which the invention may be carried into effect of the results obtained:--

Example I nese oxide, and half Over 100 cc. of

dride.

perature of 250 a molecule of boric anhythis catalyst, at a tem- C., propylene mixed with steam in the molar proportions of 11 mulecules of propylene to 9 molecules of steam,

was passed, at

a rate of 400 litres per hour (calculated at normal temperature and pressure) under a total pressure of 20 atmospheres. of isopropyl alcohol was 17.95 grams.

The hourly output The alcohol was obtained in the form of a 6.73% condensate. formed.

A small amount of acetone was also Example II Over the same amount of the same catalyst as in Example I and at a temperature of 250 C., propylene mixed with steam in the molar proportions cules of steam flow and under of 15 molecules of propylene to 5 molewas passed at the same rate of the same pressure as in Example Great Britain October 18,

I. The hourly output of isopropyl alcohol was 13.15 grams, and the alcohol was obtained in the form of a 10.7% condensate. A small amount of acetone was also formed.

What we claim is:

1. The method of producing isopropyl alcohol direct from propylene and water vapor, comprising subjecting a mixture of the propylene and water vapor to the action of an elevated temperature in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising essentially phosphoric acid and the phosphate of a metal taken from a group consisting of manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, uranium, the amount of phosphoric acid present in the catalyst being in excess of that required to form the orthophosphate of the metal or metals selected.

2. The method of producing isopropyl alcohol and the phosphate of a metal taken from a group consisting of manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, uranium, the amount of phosphoric acid present in the catalyst being in excess of that required to form the orthophosphate of the metal or metals selected.

3. The method of producing isopropyl alcohol direct from propylene and water vapor, comprising subjecting a mixture of the propylene and water vapor to the action of a temperature ranging from C. to 300 C. and an elevated pressure not exceeding 100 atmospheres in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising essentially phosphoricv acid and the phosphate of a metal taken from a group consisting of manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, uranium, the amount of phosphoric acid present in the catalyst being in excessof that required to form the orthophosphate of the metal or metals selected. a

4. The method of producing isopropyl alcohol direct from propylene and water vapor, comprising subjecting a mixture of the propylene and water vapor to the action of an elevated temperature in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising essentially phosphoric acid and the phosphate of a metal taken from. a group consisting of manganese, copper, iron. cobalt, uranium, together with the phosphate of boron, the amount of phosphoric acid present in the catalyst being in excess of that required to form the orthophosphates of boron and of the metal or metals sey i v direct from propylene andv water vapor comprisand required to form the orthophosphate of manga- 7 nese. V .c 1

r 6. The methodeof producing isopropyl alcohol,

direct from'propylene and water vaporcomprising subjecting a mixture of the propylene and water:

vapor to the action of'an elevated temperature in'the presence of a, solid catalyst comprising essentially phosphoricacid and the phosphate of copper, the amount of phosphoric acid present in thecatalyst being in excess of that required to form the orthophosphate of copper.

WALTER PHILIP JOSHUA.

HERBERT MUGGLETON STANLEY. 10 c JOHN BLAIR DYMOCK. 

